Adventures in New Guinea eBook

The most important survey work along the coast of
New Guinea was done in 1873 by H.M. ship Basilisk,
under the command of Captain Moresby. He discovered
the now-famous harbour, Port Moresby; he laid down
the true eastern coastline of the island, discovering
the China Straits, and exploring the north-east coast
as far west as Huon Gulf.

In many parts of the world Christian missionaries
have been the first to get on friendly terms with
the natives, and thus to pave the way for developing
the resources of a savage country and leading its inhabitants
in the paths of progress and civilization. Pre-eminently
has this been the case in South-eastern New Guinea.
White men had landed before them, it is true; but
for the most part only to benefit themselves, and not
unfrequently to murder the natives or to entrap them
into slavery. Christianity has won great victories
in Polynesia, but no part of the globe has witnessed
fouler crimes or more atrocious wickedness on the
part of white men towards savage races.

The history of the work done by members of the London
Missionary Society is already a long one. As
far back as 1871, the Revs. A. W. Murray and
S. McFarlane sailed from Mare, one of the Loyalty Islands,
with eight native teachers, inhabitants of that group,
with whom to begin the campaign against sin, superstition,
and savagery in New Guinea. The first station
occupied was Darnley Island, and Mr. Murray gives an
incident that well illustrates the spirit in which
these men, themselves trophies of missionary success,
entered upon their work. Speaking about another
island, the natives, in the hope of intimidating the
teachers, said, “There are alligators there,
and snakes, and centipedes.” “Hold,”
said the teacher, “are there men there?”
“Oh yes,” was the reply, “there
are men; but they are such dreadful savages that it
is no use your thinking of living among them.”
“That will do,” replied the teacher.
“Wherever there are men, missionaries are bound
to go.” Teachers were stationed at the
islands of Tauan and Sabaii. Later on, Yule Island
and Redscar Bay were visited, and the missionaries
returned to Lifu.

In 1872, Mr. Murray returned in the John Williams
with thirteen additional teachers, and for the next
two years superintended the mission from Cape York.
In 1874, he was joined by the Revs. S. McFarlane
and W. G. Lawes—­who have both ever since
that time laboured hard and successfully on behalf
of the natives—­and the steamer Ellengowan
was placed at the service of the mission by the liberality
of the late Miss Baxter, of Dundee. The native
teachers experienced many vicissitudes. Some
died from inability to stand the climate, some were
massacred by the men they were striving to bless;
but the gaps were filled up as speedily as possible,
and the map recently issued (Jan. 1885) by the Directors
of the Society shows that on the south-eastern coast
of New Guinea, from Motumotu to East Cape, no less
than thirty-two native teachers, some of them
New Guinea converts, are now toiling in the service
of the Gospel.